HELICAL

ANTENNAS
 Helical Antennas:
Helix combines the geometry of a straight line, a
circle and a cylinder.
Helix can either be Left handed or right handed.
Helix may be made of single wire or Multiple-
wires.
Single wire helix is called monofilar, uni-filar, one
wire or single conductor helix
helix may be fed axially or peripherally or at any
convenient location on GP launching structure
These are circularly polarized, high gain, and
simple to fabricate.
G = Ground plane (GP) diameter
D = Center to center diameter of helix
C = D = Circumference of helix
L = Length of one turn
n = number of turns
d = diameter of helix wire
G = distance of proper helix from GP
S = Center to center spacing between turns = C tan 
= Pitch angle = arc tan (S/D)
A = n S = Axial diameter
Depending on requirement or situation GP may be made of
sheet, screen or no. of radial and concentric conductors if not the
actual earth
 Helices find extensive applications in:
Radio telescopes to map the sky
Space communication for telephones and TV
Ground stations for tracking satellites
Weather satellites
global environmental satellites
Global positioning satellites
Space vehicles
Data relay systems
Carried to Moon and Mars in space vehicles
Transmission (T) mode – It describes the manner
in which the electromagnetic wave propagates
along an infinite helix as though the helix
constitutes an infinite Tx line or waveguide.
T0 is the lowest mode wherein the charges are
separated by several turns.
T1 is higher mode than T0 and the charges are
separated by only one turn.
The modes T2, T3 etc are still higher modes.
In T2 charges change their polarity twice in one
turn or are separated by 900.
In T3 by 600 and in Tm by /m degree where m is
the order of the mode.
Transmission (T) modes
Radiation (R) mode – describes general
form of far field pattern of a finite helical
antenna.
Though there is a possibility of many R
modes, but following two modes are higher
significance.
•Normal or omni mode of radiation is
denoted by R0 in which radiation beam is 
to helix axis.
•Axial or beam mode of radiation is denoted
by R1 in which radiation beam is  to helix
axis.
Radiation (R) modes
RO mode can be obtained by changing
dimensions of helix
Helix in RO mode:

Most commonly used

Operates as an endfire (beam) ant.
Generates circularly polarized waves
Operates over about 1.7:1 range of frequency
with gain and directivity close to maximum.
Both T & R (viz. TOR0 & T1R1 etc) modes are
specified for complete description of helix
Antenna parameters:
HPBW =  = 52 / [(C/)(nS/)] in degrees
GAIN  11.8 + 10 log10[(C/)(nS/)] in dBs
Terminal Resistance R = 140 C/ in ohms
All above relations are based on experimentally
measured values
For axial feed
R = 140 C Ohms, (true within 20%), Where C = C/
For peripheral feed
R = 150/C Ohms, (true within 10%)
Both relations true for
0.8  C 1.2 and 12o    14o